How I Started a business, expanded it, almost lost it and got back on my toes

The Studio Is Flooding: I Need Your Help

Since August, the studio has flooded 5 times, including 1 more flood this week, because … someone or someones (ahem) have failed to turn the sink off before leaving the bathroom.

I literally don’t know what to do about this.

I mean, I’m glad that everyone is so conscientious about washing their hands after … you know. But, as adults, it seems pretty basic to push both handles back to prevent water from spilling over the edge of the sink, dripping down the cabinet, pooling onto the floor, spilling into the storage room, and eventually rushing towards the studio floor.

If you were at a friend’s house, would you be in such a rush that you’d leave the water running in the powder room? Nope. You’re probably checking every corner to make sure you left it looking better than when you locked the door behind you, lest you leave the embroidered hand towel unfolded or the soap looking slimy. Am I right?

Yep, I just double checked … You can turn the water off!

As I sit listening to the gentle hum of a high-powered fan drying the floor, I have to shake my head. As an entrepreneur always seeking solutions to problems, I know there has to be an answer …

We could …

Install a lock on the door and hand out a key with a HUGE wooden paddle-like-thing attached. You know … just like you were in grade school dragging that monstrosity in front of everyone as you tried to disappear into the walls, classmates staring at you, knowing that you had to go to the bathroom.

Install a camera pointed at the outside of the door to document who goes into the bathroom and catch the offender or offenders wet-handed. Hummm … how would that phone call go? “Um, hi. This is Carolyn at Pure Barre, I’m just calling to let you know that our Bathroom Door Cam has identified you as the responsible adult who left the sink running and flooded the studio. Is this a bad time to talk? Wait, what? You can’t hear me over the emergency response team sucking up gallons of water and the industrial-grade fan blowing to dry the floor?”

Charge a towel fee for all new and existing clients.

Y’all! What do you suggest? I’m sure that someone out there has the solution. Please, come to my rescue and help me solve this tidal wave of a problem.

Wait … you know what to do? It’s simple? You mean, if everyone turned off the faucet like we’ve done our whole child and adult lives, this wouldn’t happen anymore? Nah, that seems too easy. I thought you’d pick #3.

4 thoughts on “The Studio Is Flooding: I Need Your Help”

Automatic faucet (like in an airport), sign on the door reminding people to shut it off, wetness detector on the floor with a siren so that the flooding is caught early, fix the sink so that it doesn’t overflow – that’s not normal, option E is all of the above. It’s an odd expense, but whatever… solve the problem and move onto the important stuff.